Factors related to fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus : a cohort cross-sectional study

Background Fatigue is the most prevalent symptom in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) as it is present in up to 90% of patients; it is considered to be the most disabling symptom in around half of the patients [1,2]. Its aetiology is multi-factorial and there is conflicting evidence on the relationship between fatigue and SLE disease activity, and between fatigue and vitamin D deficiency. The Ad Hoc Committee on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Response Criteria for Fatigue recommended the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) for the measurement of fatigue in SLE [2,3].peer-reviewe

Translation and validation of the Fatigue Severity Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire into the Maltese language, in a cohort of Maltese Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients

PURPOSE: The assessment of fatigue, sleep quality and functional disability requires the use of validated instruments such as the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (mHAQ) respectively. The aim of this study was to translate and validate these instruments into the Maltese Language. METHOD: Forward translation from the original English version into Maltese was carried out by two translators. The two versions were compiled to produce a preliminary initial Maltese translation. This was translated back into English by two other translators. This led to the development of the pre-final version of the Maltese translation, which was pilot-tested in 20 bilingual patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. RESULTS: Psychometric testing revealed good reliability of the Maltese translation of the three questionnaires. Cronbach’s alpha of the Maltese versions of the FSS, PSQI and mHAQ were 0.877, 0.859 and 0.897 respectively, showing good internal consistency. Validity of the Maltese version of the FSS was shown, since it had a significant positive correlation with visual analogue scale for fatigue (r=0.809, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The Maltese translations were thus finalised, and could be used for clinical assessment or research purposes.peer-reviewe

Navigating Sense of Home: Migration experiences of Home and Community

Migrants experience significant stresses when transitioning to find a sense of belonging from one country to another (Kirmaryer et. al 2011), particularly when the nature of migration is forced. Language barriers, currency differences, different foods, written and unwritten rules of conduct as well as different climates all contribute to make the acculturative process difficult and stressful (Jackson & Bauder, 2014). Understanding how migrants navigate this process and the resources required to successfully integrate within a new host community is an important area of research both for migrants and the host communities. Using an archival dataset collected by researchers from the University of Genoa the aim of this presentation is to understand the relationship between psychological home, neighborhood attachment, sense of community and resilience within the migratory context. Our findings indicate that length of stay, and employment positively and significantly predict psychological home. With regards to resilience only psychological home was found to be positively and significantly predictive. Neighborhood attachment and sense of community were found to be highly overlapping concepts that may be seen as multiple measure of the same phenomenon. The implications of this study continue to highlight the importance of the understudied psychological home construct. For policy makers and community organizations investing in programming that allows people to develop and cultivate a sense of psychological home is an important way to foster resilience in migrants. Another implication of this study is that investment in existing and further programs and programming to help migrants enter into adequately paid jobs with good conditions can also have indirect effects such as promoting psychological home. Migrants who are able to successfully participate within the workforce are able to exert greater financial power within their host country and have greater opportunities at selecting, investing in and customizing their house thereby increasing psychological home. This has the indirect effect of promoting resilience through psychological home but most likely also promotes resilience through greater social resources and networks being available to the migrant

Vitamin D supplementation in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency : the effect on disease activity, fatigue and interferon signature gene expression

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [1]. Evidence from multiple studies has shown that vitamin D deficiency in SLE is associated with a higher disease activity [2]. There is conflicting evidence with regards to the relationship between fatigue and vitamin D level [3,4].peer-reviewe

Nurturing travel and tourism enterprises for economic growth and competitiveness

Small and medium-sized enterprises are often constrained by their size and limited resources. They can find themselves in an equity gap where they may find it difficult to raise capital for their business. Consequently, this contribution involves a content analysis of specific European Union policies and instruments that are aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing finance. Moreover, it also presents a short case study of a tourism start-up that has raised its capital requirements through crowdfunding. This research sheds light on practitioner-oriented tools that can ultimately foster a climate for job creation, economic growth and competitiveness among small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism and hospitality sectors.peer-reviewe

The relationship between youth and crime in Malta

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between youth and crime in Malta. The relationship between youth and crime is one of the most contentious relationships, both because it is enduring and because certain authors claim it is impervious to psychological and social explanations. Using a semi-structured interview format, this research engaged with five youth workers working with NGOs, state agencies and community organizations, and sought to understand how the social construction of youth crime occurs in Malta. The results were for the most part in line with international findings with education, broader social forces, and family playing key roles as protective or risk factors. Lacunae in praxis from various entities in the youth work field were identified and highlighted how such a fragmentary and piecemeal approach persists and may even contribute to the legitimization of negative systemic messages given to certain categories of youths.peer-reviewe

A comparison of thermographic characteristics of the hands and wrists of rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls

Thermal imaging has been applied to detect possible temperature variations in various rheumatic disorders. This study sought to determine whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without active synovitis in their hands exhibit different baseline thermographic patterns of the fingers and palms when compared to healthy individuals. Data from 31 RA patients were compared to that of 51 healthy controls. The RA patients were recruited upon confirmed absence of synovitis by clinical examination and musculoskeletal ultrasound. Participants underwent medical infrared imaging of the regions of interest (ROIs). Significant differences were found between the mean temperatures of the palm regions (29.37 °C (SD2.2); n = 306) and fingers (27.16 °C (SD3.2); n = 510) of the healthy participants when compared to the palm regions (31.4(SD1.84)°C; n = 186) and fingers (30.22 °C (SD2.4); n = 299) of their RA counterparts (p = 0.001), with the latter group exhibiting higher temperatures in all ROIs. Logistic regression models confirm that both palm and finger temperature increase significantly in RA without active inflammation. These innovative findings provide evidence that baseline thermal data in RA differs significantly from healthy individuals. Thermal imaging may have the potential to become an adjunct assessment method of disease activity in patients with RA.peer-reviewe

Strategic corporate communication in the digital age

This chapter presents a thorough review on the mobile learning concept. It also explores how businesses are using mobile learning (m-learning) technologies for the training and development of their human resources. The research involved semi-structured interviews and an online survey. The research participants were expected to share their opinions about the costs and benefits of using m-learning applications (apps). The findings reported that the younger course participants were more likely to embrace the m-learning technologies than their older counterparts. They were using different mobile devices, including laptops, hybrids as well as smartphones and tablets to engage with m-learning applications at work, at home and when they are out and about. This contribution has identified the contextual factors like the usefulness and the ease of use of m-learning applications (apps), individual learning styles and their motivations, time, spatial issues, integration with other learning approaches, as well as the cost and accessibility of the m-learning technology. In conclusion, this contribution identifies future research avenues relating to the use of m-learning technologies among businesses and training organisations.peer-reviewe

Understanding the Valletta community

Valletta is the Capital City of Malta. All citizens of this Country are affianced with Valletta. The beauty of this city is second to none. As a Faculty, in collaboration with a number of stakeholders, we attempted to locate some important issues that have potentially impacted the liveability of this community. As per introduction of the report; ‘This paper discusses findings of a mixed-methods case study on community development with special attention to liveability issues of island state communities that would have held the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) title. The case study context is Valletta – capital city of former colony and EU island state Malta. Valletta held the ECoC title during 2018 (European Commission (EC), n.d.). The empirical study was informed by data contributions from Valletta residents; as well as by government and cultural elites who influenced, to varying degrees, how regeneration and development occurred in Valletta between 2014 and 2019. This timeframe covers the period before, during and exactly after 2018 - when Valletta held the ECoC title (V18).’ Notwithstanding we are such a small Island the complexities that one finds from one town or village to another and even within the same locality is incredible and makes it exciting to research. This study we hope has managed to localise a number of issues that if one reads well into the empirical data can inform our decision makers to take the much-needed actions. Kudos to all the team that was involved in this project.peer-reviewe